A new study has uncovered that people with an optimistic outlook actually share similar patterns of brain activity when imagining the future—a finding that may shed new light on why “positive thinking” often leads to social success and resilience. Conducted by researchers at Kobe University in Japan and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research used MRI scans to demonstrate that optimists tend to process future events using a shared neural framework, specifically in the medial prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain associated with future-oriented thought (The Guardian).
For Thai readers, where concepts like “jai yen” (cool heart) and “mai pen rai” (never mind) permeate daily life, these scientific insights add a new dimension to the folk wisdom around positivity and social connection. In a society renowned for its collective spirit and smooth social interactions, understanding the neural mechanics behind optimism could have strong implications for mental health, education, and even workplace dynamics.
To arrive at their conclusions, the Kobe University research team asked 87 participants to complete an optimism questionnaire, then scanned their brains with MRI while they imagined a variety of future scenarios—ranging from the exhilarating, like a globe-spanning adventure, to the distressing, like job loss. Some participants even had to dwell on scenarios involving death. The key finding: when reflecting on the future, optimists’ brain scans showed strikingly similar activity patterns in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). In contrast, pessimists’ brain patterns were more diverse, especially when considering negative scenarios.
Lead author, a researcher from Kobe University, explains, “Optimists seem to use a shared neural framework for organising thoughts about the future, which likely reflects a similar style of mental processing rather than identical ideas.” The research suggests that when Thai or global optimists talk about their plans and dreams—whether passing the university entrance exam or launching a business—their brains are “literally on the same wavelength,” making social connection and collaboration smoother. This could help explain why optimism is often linked with social success, as previous studies have noted (PNAS).
Not only did optimists “think alike” structurally, but their MPFC activity also showed sharper differences when processing positive versus negative events. This, according to the research team, may equip optimists with a greater ability to distinguish between good and bad possibilities, helping them stay resilient in the face of adversity—a trait highly valued in Thai culture, especially amid the rapid social and economic changes of recent years.
An outside academic from the University of Birmingham, who reviewed the findings, commented that optimists tend to picture negative events in life less vividly, making these scenarios less impactful. This scientific insight dovetails with the Thai tendency to avoid overthinking hardship—a quality sometimes misunderstood as passivity but perhaps rooted in effective psychological strategies. “The study suggests that optimism does not mean denying reality or distorting the facts. Instead, it affects how deeply negative possibilities influence us,” she explained. “Optimism works best when it energizes us to pursue goals—picturing a positive, achievable outcome increases our drive to make it real.”
The study also invokes literary wisdom, comparing optimists’ shared neural reality to the famous opening of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina: “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” The research team put it this way: “Optimistic individuals are all alike, but each less optimistic individual imagines the future in their own way.” In practical terms for Thailand, this could be valuable for schools, mental health professionals, and workplaces seeking to foster greater psychological resilience.
While the findings are compelling, they also open new questions for future research. Why do pessimists process negative scenarios more variably—are they more attuned to their own concerns or perhaps less connected to common social goals? And can optimists’ neural pattern be cultivated through educational or community initiatives, such as “growth mindset” programs now emerging in Thai schools?
Thailand’s mental health system has faced growing challenges, particularly among young people who report high rates of anxiety and uncertainty about their future in a rapidly transforming economy (WHO Thailand). The science of optimism offers a potential pathway for intervention. By encouraging shared, positive frameworks for planning and visualizing the future, schools and counselors could help at-risk youth build “resilient brains,” not just “positive thinking.”
There is also a lesson for the private sector. With workplace stress on the rise, especially after the pandemic, team-building or corporate training sessions that focus on fostering collective optimism might do more than lift morale. By literally aligning employees’ neural frameworks for success, organizations could unlock higher degrees of collaboration, creativity, and coping abilities.
These insights also intersect with Thai cultural touchstones. The Buddhist emphasis on “right view” (samma ditthi) as the foundation for personal happiness and ethical conduct mirrors the scientific finding that the way we frame the future distinctly shapes our mental life. Historical Thai literature is full of proverbs—like “เมื่อมีทุกข์ก็มีสุข” (where there is suffering, there is also happiness)—that encourage balancing hardship with hope, suggesting that optimism has deep roots in local thinking.
Looking ahead, neuroscientists will likely investigate how malleable the “optimist brain” might be—whether interventions such as mindfulness, meditation (commonly practiced in Thailand), or cognitive-behavioural therapy can help pessimists develop the same structural approach to imagining the future. For educators, parents, and business leaders, the message is clear: the right training and support could help entire communities become more psychologically aligned, resilient, and successful.
For Thai readers, the practical takeaway is simple. Encouraging optimism is about more than repeating upbeat slogans; it’s about nurturing shared visions of a better future and training the mind to process challenges with clarity and emotional distance. Whether in the classroom, at work, or at home, open conversations about hopes, dreams, and what a “good future” looks like can lay the neural foundation for healthier, happier lives.
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